Vacuum cleaner



Oct Z9 E. C. KILLEBREW I,

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 19, 1926 Ilo Patented Oct. 2, 1928'. p'

FFICE' nimnsrconnr. KILLEBREW, or nvANsvrLLE, INDrANA.

VACUUM CLEANER.

Application filed November 19, 192.6. Serial No. 149,370.

The object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner'having improved means by which a beating action may be obtained in addition' to the usual vacuum or suction action.

The improvements reside in the provision of either a flexible cord, strip or piece, however constructedand mounted, which will be operably connected to the motor in an improvedmanner enabling different adjustments to be had to elfect changes in the beating action.

`My invention supplies means for effec-tually agitating the carpet, rug, fabric, "or

.l5 the like which is beingsubjected to vacuum action, thereby loosening the dust and particles of dirt, lint, etc. which ordinary vacuum action will not properly remove.y

The beating or whipping action which is obtained by the use of my improvements,

can be regulated as to stroke by the improved means I have provided for that purose. p Further improvements consists of short and long'handles, the short handle being permanently attached to the vacuum cleaner and enabling the latter to be readily pushed around in places where space is limited; the other handle being detachably connected to the vacuum cleaner so that it may be removed when not needed and being of suitable length so that the user may push the vacuum cleaner across the floor when a floor covering, or a floor is being treated.

cleaner may be put, such as cleaning carpets and upholstery in automobiles, cleanlng upholstered furniture, etc, as with my improvements, the short handle is not in the 4l) oor or floor covering, but the-long, pushing handle may be removed when the vacuum cleaner has to be used in close quarters.

Other features of the invention reside in a )closure arranged to enable the user to readily insert the fingers into the casing or shell for the purpose of adjusting the means for operatin the beater, .and other details ot construction appear more fully hereiner. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a side elevation, the shell or There are many luses to which my vacuum 'Y way when the vacuum cleaner is used on a casing being in section and both handles being provided; Y

Fig. 2, is a bottom View;

. Fig. 3, is a cross-section through the shell or casing; and

Fig. 4, is a detail View, partly in section, showing the adjustable crank pin and the latch therefor.

The shell of the electric motor appears at 1 and the usual suction fan is shown at 2, said fan drawing in the dirt, lint, and other 'material through an opening 3 and forcing it through housing 4.- ilrto the usual bag or container 5 which is removably attached to conduit 6. v i lThe nozzle or suction mouth is shown at 7 and is provided with a screw closure 8 which screws into an opening 9 which is of 70 suliicient size to permit the introduction of the fingers of the user yfor the purpose of eifecting'adjustments of parts presently to be described. v

The vacuum cleaner is supported by a frame 10 preferably hinged at 11 to the housing 4 of said frame having a roller 12 adapted to travel on the licor or rug or other surface over which the vacuum cleaner is being pushed. A rest 13, carried by 30 the frame 10 supports the motor shell 1. A short handle 14 attached to the frame 10, is adapted forx use in pushing and pulling the vacuum cleaner about when it is to' be used in small s aces or small quarters as, .for instance, w en cleaning the carpets, or upholstery, of automobiles, or upholstery of chairs, sofas, etc.

This handle is so short that it is not in the way when the vacuum cleaner` Yis being 90 ushed over a floor or rug but it is always j andy when the vacuum cleaner is to be used in the manner previously described.

The usual type of handle115 is employed for pushing and pulling the vacuum cleaner over floors, rugs, carpets, etc, lsaid handle being connected to the sides of the motor casing 1 at 16 in a manner enabling it to be detached whenever it is desired to use the vacuum cleanerA in close quarters The .100

handle 14 may then be used for manipulating the cleaner. j

Instead of using a rotary brush or similar device for loosening the dust, dirt, and

i other matter which is to `be removed from 'i the surface treated by the vacuum cleaner,

as has previously been proposed, I have devised .an` improved beating or agitating device, adapted to be set to perform different t movements or operations. 'Ihis comprises a cord, bar, or piece or pieces 17 which is an- `choredat 18 to the nozzle 7 as,1for instance,

. by the detachably connected plates shown.

` beating device 17.

This' enables the beating or agitating device to be removed and another substituted when desirable or necessary. L

f This beating` or agitating device may be an elastic, or rubber cord or piece of elastic fabric, or a flexible or resilient piece or pieces of metal. rllhe beating device in question is rapidly vibrated up and down through many paths, inasmuch as the motor shaft 19 which operates it,'revolves at a high rate ot speed, said-shaft being the armature shaft `for the motor 1 and also carrying the suctionfan 2.

I am aware that vari-ous mechanical movements may be interposed between the beating device 17 and the shaft 19 and my invention, in its broadest aspect, is not limited to any specific operative connection, for; the

I prefer, however,

. 'and effective improved operating connection shown and now to be described. This consists of a crank arm 20'carried by the `yshaft '19 and l:rotated by it, a crank pin 21 carried by said crank arm 20, and a connecting rod 1,686,4io i rIhe whipping action of the device 17 loosens the dust, dirt, and other particles from the surface being cleaned and insures thorough cleansing. lWhat I claim is? l A1; In 'a vacuum cleaner providedwith a motor, a motor shaft, and a` nozzle vhaving a suction mouth,van elongated, flexible beating device whose end parts are connected to the lsuction mouth and whose intermediate part is free to vibrate within said suction mouth,

to provide the simple a crank on the motor shaft, and a rod conpart ol? the beating device. y

y2. Inl a vacuum cleaner provided with a nectinfr said crank and said intermediate' suction mouth, an elongated, flexible beating 'device whose end parts are connected to the suction mouth'and whose intermediate part isfree to. vibrate 4within said suction mouth, acrank arm on the motor shaft, a rod connected to said intermediate part of the beat- Aing device, and an adjustable connection be- 22, said connecting rod being attached in any suitable operative manner to the beat-v `ing device, as shown at 23.' The beating device 17 'may'have an eyelet to which the connecting rod is attached.' Without intending to limit the invention, itmay be said that in providing the beating device considerable modification can be7resorted to 1 The crank pin 21 is made adjustable to different angles so that the' cycles or paths be changed, at the will ofthe operator.

of movement of the sweeping device 17 may One arrangement for setting the crank pin 21 to dierent positions' is shown in Fig. 4 where the crank pin is pivotally connected at 24 to the4 crank arm 20. A-latch 25, carried byA tween therod and the crank arm whereby the throw of said connecting rod may be changed.

3, In a vacuum cleaner, provided 'with a motor, a motor shaft, and a nozzle having a suction mouth, an elongated, flexible beat ing devicelwhose end parts are connected to the suction mouth and Whose intermediate part is free to vibrate within said suction .motor, a` motor shaft, and a nozzle having a j mouth, a crankarm'on the motor shaft, a rod i connected to said intermediate part 'of the beating device, and a 'crank Ypin carried by )the crank arm which is adjustable in relation to=saidfc\rank arm, said rod being connected to said crank pin, and means for locking said pin in adjusted position.-

' In testimony whereof affix my signature.

ERNEST aconLA KrnLnBREw. l 

